Diversity, equality, and inclusion are three values that are highly important for all organisations across the World. Throughout society, it is crucial that we are supportive of different groups of individuals, including people of different genders, races, ethnicities, cultures, religions, and sexual orientations. With 18% of our population consisting of Black, Asian, and other minority groups, the topic of diversity and inclusion remains at the forefront of everything we do.
Why is Diversity & Inclusion Important?
Diversity and inclusion is an extremely important topic, and it is becoming increasingly important to prioritise throughout the workplace. Creating a diverse and inclusive team can bring many benefits to an organisation, such as reaching a higher performance rate, increased productivity, and enhanced innovation. By developing a positive workplace culture, it will push organisations to seek the best talent in the industry, and therefore perform to the highest standard. As employees continue to speak up about their expectations surrounding diversity and inclusion, organisations must stay ahead of the curve.
Source: CIPD
Why Should I Hire a Diversity & Inclusion Speaker?
Diversity and inclusion can seem like a complex topic to tackle in the workplace. From racial and gender equality to mental and physical well-being, our selection of talented experts is the perfect choice to educate and inspire audiences at a wide range of events.
Following the evaluation of verified feedback from over 632 EDI events, Champions Speakers' Senior Keynote Speaker & Entertainment Manager, Chris Tompkins, has made his formal selection of the Official Top 25 Diversity & Inclusion Speakers in the World Ranked on Popularity. Take a look below!
Our Top 25 Diversity & Inclusion Speakers:
- Gareth Thomas
- RuPaul
- Akala
- Mary Portas
- Michelle Visage
- Dr Alex George
- Ade Adepitan
- Michelle King
- Lord Simon Woolley
- Billie Jean King
- Pauline Miller
- Asif Sadiq
- June Sarpong
- Jo Salter
- Jason Robinson
- Derek Redmond
- Neil Laybourn & Jonny Benjamin
- David Olusoga
- Michal Oshman
- Martine Wright
- Dame Inga Beale
- Nigel Owens
- Kimberle Crenshaw
- Sophie Williams
- Zaheer Ahmad
1. Gareth Thomas - 9.9/10
Gareth Thomas has not only become one of the most recognisable former rugby stars across the UK but has also implemented positive change throughout society as a proud LGBT advocate. Admired by audiences of all ages and backgrounds for captaining Wales and the British & Irish Lions, he has become the most capped Welsh player, with 100 caps for his country. An inspiration throughout the sports community, Gareth became the first openly gay professional rugby union player in 2009 for unapologetically being himself and has continued to support other young players with representation throughout the industry ever since. Having made influential contributions as an LGBT advocate, he was named the Most Influential Gay Person in the UK in 2010 by The Independent and Stonewalls Hero of The Year for his work. As the proud author of both ‘Stronger’ and ‘Proud’, two publications that speak openly about his life experiences, Gareth has become a must-see diversity and inclusion speaker for audiences at events of all kinds.
2. RuPaul - 9.9/10
RuPaul is widely recognised as one of the most commercially successful drag queens in the United States. Treasured for his confidence and powerful personality, RuPaul rose to fame following the release of his album Supermodel of the World, which saw his single Supermodel (You Better Work) gain popularity. Having enjoyed a long and decorated career, he is esteemed for becoming the Producer and Host of RuPaul’s Drag Race, whilst also working as the host of the popular podcast ‘RuPaul: What’s for Tee? With Michelle Visage’ since 2014. A testament to his remarkable achievements, RuPaul has been the recipient of nine Critics Choice Real TV Awards, five MYT Movie & TV Awards, four Guild of America Awards, two GLAAD Media Awards, and many more. When looking to hire a captivating diversity and inclusion speaker to attend your future events, look no further than RuPaul today.
3. Akala - 9.8/10
Akala is treasured for becoming an award-winning hip-hop artist, writer, poet, and historian. Admired for fusing his unique electro-punk sound with fierce lyrical storytelling, he has gained the opportunity to complete 6 UK tours and appear on TV across stations such as ITV2, Channel 4, MTV, Sky Arts, and the BBC. In 2009, Akala launched ‘The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company’, a music production company which has seen worldwide media interest since its inception. Alongside his remarkable music career, Akala is also treasured as a diversity and inclusion activist. Regularly speaking on important topics such as Windrush, racism, and equality within the workplace, Akala is the perfect addition to a wide range of diversity and inclusion awareness events.
4. Mary Portas - 9.7/10
Mary Portas is famed for her expertise in consumer behaviour and the high street. As the proud Founder of Yellowdoor, now known as Portas Agency Ltd, she has worked alongside successful organisations such as Swarovski, Harvey Nichols, Louis Vuitton, and Mercedes-Benz, allowing her to get to where she is today. An expert in her field, Mary was awarded the D&AD Gold Award and has also been commissioned by the Prime Minister to conduct a review of the future of the high street. Also a passionate LGBT advocate, Mary is respected for being part of the first lesbian couple in the UK to be married under the new law. Passionate to raise awareness and acceptance for the LGBT community as a diversity and inclusion speaker, Mary has become a popular choice when looking to hire an expert on retail or the LGBT community to speak at your next event.
5. Michelle Visage - 9.8/10
Michelle Visage is an industry-leading presenter, performer, and radio DJ, best known for appearing as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Admired for her outgoing, and vivacious personality, she has made numerous appearances throughout the media industry, including becoming a television presenter on Ireland Got Talent and the co-host of The RuPaul Show. Backed by many years of professional experience, Michelle released her debut publication ‘The Diva Rules’ in 2015, and proving she is a woman of many talents, she made her on-stage debut in 2018 in ‘Everyone’s Talking About Jamie’. An iconic figure throughout the entertainment industry, Michelle has overcome her fair share of adversity throughout her career and is treasured for being unapologetically herself.
6. Dr Alex George - 9.9/10
Dr Alex George is a highly respected public figure, widely respected for working as the UK Government’s Youth Mental Health Ambassador. As a former A&E doctor, his admirable healthcare career has been dedicated over recent years to promoting the important conversation topic of mental health and inclusivity throughout society. Having worked alongside charities such as YoungMinds, Mind, and the Anna Freud Centre, Alex is on a mission to bring accessible and reassuring advice to the public directly from the frontline. Passionate to share his specialist knowledge and experience with audiences globally, he has recently presented a documentary for BBC One and Children in Need, whilst also releasing his first publication, Live Well Every Day, which has become a Sunday Times Number 1 Bestseller. A leading authority on mental and sexual health, Dr Alex George is the perfect choice when looking to hire an experienced diversity and inclusion speaker.
7. Ade Adepitan - 9.7/10
Ade Adepitan is an inspirational British television presenter and wheelchair basketball player. After contracting polio as a child and losing the use of his left leg, Ade has not let his disability define his success. Due to his driven mindset and physical resilience, he was selected to join the Great Britain wheelchair basketball team and has won numerous medals over recent years. Now a predominantly known television personality, Ade has featured on numerous programmes for the BBC, including being a presenter on Xchange, a guest star on EastEnders, and a basketball coach in Desperados. Having overcome adversity in all areas of his life, Ade was awarded an MBE in 2006 for his services to disability sports, recognising the positive impact he continues to make throughout society as a whole. When looking to hire an inspirational diversity and inclusion speaker to attend your next event, do not hesitate to hire Ade today.
8. Michelle King - 9.8/10
Michelle King is a renowned expert on diversity and inclusion, admired greatly for becoming the proud Founder and Managing Director of Equality Forward. With over 10 years of professional experience behind her, she has devoted her work to spreading the message that we need to tackle inequality by fixing workplace cultures. An inspiration to professionals globally, Michelle has fulfilled numerous respected positions throughout her career, including becoming the Director of Inclusion at Netflix, and the Senior Manager of Development, Diversity, and Employee Engagement for UN Women. Passionate about implementing positive change throughout the corporate industry, Michelle became the proud author of ‘How Work Works: The Subtle Science of Getting Ahead Without Losing Yourself’, a book that allows audiences to understand and navigate the unwritten rules of the workplace. Having been recently named in the Top 100 Women at Davos by Global Women’s Leadership Experts, and named LinkedIn’s Top Voice for Workplace Equality in 2022, Michelle has become a popular diversity and inclusion speaker to appear at events of all kinds.
9. Lord Simon Woolley - 9.7/10
Lord Simon Woolley is an inspirational political and equalities activist, widely recognised for becoming the proud Founder and Director of Operation Black Vote, an initiative which addressed the Black British democratic deficit and race inequalities. Passionate to motivate the Black and minority ethnic communities, Simon has gained the opportunity to sit as a Crossbencher in the House of Lords, work as the Principal of Homerton College and become a Trustee of the Police Now charity. Determined to raise awareness of race inequalities in health, employment, and education, he was awarded a Knighthood in 2019 for his services to race equality and was later named Baron Woolley of Woodford in the London Borough of Redbridge. Named on the Powerlist from 2012 to 2015, Lord Simon Woolley is now highly sought-after to attend diversity and inclusion events internationally.
10. Billie Jean King - 9.9/10
Billie Jean King is a pioneer of female empowerment and inclusion within the sporting industry. Widely recognised as a world-renowned tennis champion, Billie became the poster child for modern feminism after her iconic encounter with opponent Bobby Riggs. Following Bobby’s announcement which stated that female tennis players were inferior, she stepped up to the net and proved that she was as capable and talented as he was and exited the match victorious. An inspirational moment for women and LGBT athletes, Billie has devoted her recent career to sharing the important message that our differences can only make us stronger. In 2009, President Barack Obama awarded Billie the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her LGBT+ activism and was later selected to become the recipient of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award. When looking to hire an empowering female and diversity speaker to attend your next event, look no further than Billie today.
11. Pauline Miller - 9.7/10
Pauline Miller is a renowned change management specialist, best known for becoming the Chief Equity Officer at Dentsu International. Having formerly worked as the Head of Talent Development and Inclusion at Lloyd’s of London, her expert knowledge and experience spans a wide range of areas, from inclusion and change management to empowering women in business and minority group representation. Determined to be a role model for women and young girls, Pauline is currently an advisory board member for the United Nations Foundation Girl Up, allowing her to voice her informed views of the inequality women face daily. Also the creator of Lloyd’s ‘Dive In’ festival, she created this annual event in 2015 to increase awareness of diversity and inclusion in insurance, allowing her to reach an audience of over 90,000 attendees. Approaching the topic of diversity and inclusion can be difficult in a workplace environment, but with over twenty years of HR experience behind her, Pauline is the perfect speaker to do so.
12. Asif Sadiq - 9.8/10
Asif Sadiq is a multi-award-winning diversity and inclusion specialist who has over fifteen years of global experience working within the competitive corporate industry. Admired for becoming the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for Warner Bros. Discovery, his work as a global leader has been key in implementing diversity and inclusion activities and programmes into the workplace environment. Treasured for his driven mindset and career achievements, Asif was selected as the Head of Diversity Award at the European Diversity Awards, and in 2017, he was honoured with an MBE for his services to Policing and Communities. Having previously been listed as one of the most influential Global D&I Leaders by Hive Learning, a LinkedIn influencer, and included in the CIPD’s Top 20 Powerlist, Asif has become the ideal diversity and inclusion speaker to attend diversity and inclusion events of all kinds.
13. June Sarpong - 9.7/10
June Sarpong is admired globally for working as a politically driven broadcaster and advocate for diversity, best known as a former panellist on Loose Women. Utilising her popular platforms to share the dangers of discrimination in an already divided world, she has gained the opportunity to appear on a wide range of television shows, including the MOBO Awards as a presenter, a host on Make Poverty History, and a regular panellist on The Pledge. Alongside her remarkable broadcasting career, June has also become an international best-selling author, following the release of her debut publication ‘Diversify: Six Degrees of Integration’ in 2017. Passionate about bringing women together to speak about inspiration and enterprise, she became the Co-Founder of the WIE Network and has since developed her entrepreneurial career to launch a publishing imprint, The HQ Creative Inclusion Lab. Respected globally for her work as an advocate for anti-discrimination, June has been appointed MBE and OBE for her Services to Broadcasting Charity, allowing her to become the youngest person to be appointed an MBE. When looking to hire a captivating diversity and inclusion speaker for your next event, do not hesitate to hire June today.
14. Jo Salter - 9.6/10
Jo Salter is famed for becoming the first female fast jet pilot during her services in the Royal Air Force. Having joined the RAF at 18, she has since gained the opportunity to lead an all-male squadron and become the proud Director of Global Transformative Leadership for PWC. An empowering female figure for audiences globally, Jo is currently serving as a Trustee of The Royal Air Force Club and an Ambassador of the Global Angels charity. Keen to share her specialist knowledge and unique experiences with audiences, Jo has authored two popular books titled ‘Energy: 52 Ways to Fire Up Your Life and Become an Energy Angel’ and ‘Energize: Spring Clean Your Mind and Body to Get Your Bounce Back Today and Every Day’. A testament to her incredible career achievements, she was named one of the 50 Most Inspiring Women in the World by Harpers & Queen and was also invited personally by Tom Cruise to attend the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. Admired for being unapologetically herself, Jo aims to educate audiences on the need to abolish stereotypes surrounding women at all diversity and inclusion events she attends.
15. Jason Robinson - 9.8/10
Jason Robinson is an extremely talented sportsman, widely regarded as the first Black British man to Captain the England Rugby Team. Renowned for his powerful speed and ability to defeat defenders, she solidified his name in the history books after making 171 incredible tries during his career. Since retiring from the sport, Jason has become the admired Founder of JR Talks and JR Sports Stars, both created to inspire underprivileged communities to achieve their goals and increase their confidence. In recognition of his inspirational success, Jason has been awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Lycamobile British Ethnic Diversity Sports Awards. Alongside this, he has also been appointed MBE and OBE over recent years. Now a leading keynote speaker, having been voted one of the world's best social mobility speakers, Jason is the ideal choice when looking to book a diversity and inclusion speaker for your upcoming event.
16. Derek Redmond - 9.8/10
Derek Redmond is a talented high-performance motivational coach who developed his specialist knowledge and experience whilst competing as a professional athlete. First breaking the British record for the 400m in 1985, he continued to develop a remarkable sporting career for many years, competing at the Olympics, and European and World Championships. In recognition of his driven mindset and profound physical resilience, Derek was included in Barack Obama’s inaugural State of the Union speech for overcoming adversity and resilience. Since stepping away from his competitive sporting career, Derek focused on performance management and high-performance coaching. An inspiration throughout the community, he worked as the Director of Development for UK Athletes, the CEO of Olympex, and an Ambassador for Nike. To share his high-performance knowledge with a wide audience, Derek authored the best-selling book ‘Sport Is A Business and Business Is A Sport’ allowing him to translate the lessons he learned in sports into a corporate context. An inspiring diversity and inclusion speaker, Derek is now highly sought-after to appear at events of all kinds.
17. Neil Laybourn & Jonny Benjamin - 9.6/10
Neil Laybourn and Jonny Benjamin have transformed society's understanding of mental health since officially meeting in 2014. Back in 2008, Jonny was struggling with his mental health and decided he would act on his suicidal thoughts on Waterloo Bridge in London. Luckily due to the kindness of a stranger, Jonny’s life was saved, but he did not find out who the stranger was until he launched his #FindMik campaign. After only two weeks of the campaign being live, he found that the stranger that saved his life was in fact, Neil Laybourn. Since the meeting, the pair have joined forces to speak openly about mental health, providing support to those who are suffering from the illness and breaking the stigma that surrounds the important topic. Over recent years, they have founded Beyond, a charity focused on helping young people with their mental health, and they are also both proud Ambassadors for Mental Health UK. Widely respected for becoming some of the UK’s most influential mental health campaigners, Neil and Jonny are the perfect choice when looking to hire diversity and inclusion speakers for your next event.
18. David Olusoga - 9.9/10
David Olusoga is an industry-leading author, presenter, and activist whose contributions to Britain’s Black history are remarkable. As the current Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester, he is committed to sharing his knowledge on topics such as slavery, the Windrush, and the empire with the next generation of diversity and inclusion advocates. A regular feature in front of a camera, David has appeared in numerous series to date, including A House Through Time, Black and British: A Forgotten History, and The World’s War. Treasured for winning the Specialist Factual BAFTA Award in 2016 for Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners, his work has transformed society into what we know it today. Not only beloved for his television appearances, but David has also become the famed author of ‘Black & British’ which won the Longman-History Today Trustees Award. Inspiring audiences globally to speak openly about the topics of racism and discrimination, David is a highly sought-after speaker to attend diversity and inclusion events internationally.
19. Michal Oshman - 9.5/10
Michal Oshman is a highly respected professional, best known for becoming the proud Global Head of Company Culture for TikTok. Pioneering a positive workplace culture in organisations around the world, her work is dedicated to putting the needs and wants of employees first. With a wealth of knowledge supporting her career, Michal has secured profound roles such as Senior Leadership Development Consultant for Lloyds Bank, Senior Manager of Leadership Development at Danone, and Head of Organisation Development EU for eBay. Passionate to share her industry-leading knowledge with audiences globally, Michal has authored the book ‘What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?’ which details how people can discover a life of joy and purpose. A renowned expert on workplace culture, leadership development, and organisational behaviour, she recently gained the opportunity to deliver the inspirational TEDx talk Replacing Fear with Purpose. When looking to hire an empowering female diversity and inclusion speaker, look no further than Michal today.
20. Martine Wright - 9.5/10
Martine Wright has an incredible story to share, from being the last rescued survivor of the 7/7 bombings to becoming an incredibly successful Paralympian. Having overcome adversity in all areas of her life following the life-changing attack she fell victim to, Martine has utilised this experience to push her physical and mental resilience to the extremes, allowing her to become the captain of the British Paralympic sitting volleyball team. Since gaining 40 caps for her country, and competing at the 2012 London Paralympics, Martine has gone on to become a recognised television personality, gaining the opportunity to cover the Paralympics and Invictus Games for the BBC and Channel 4. An inspirational female sportswoman, she was named Inspirational Women of the Year by Zest Magazine, and in 2016, she was honoured with an MBE. With a wealth of experience behind her, Martine can tailor her diversity and inclusion speeches to suit the needs of all clients.
21. Dame Inga Beale - 9.7/10
Dame Inga Beale is treasured globally for becoming the first female CEO of Lloyd’s of London. Taking a revolutionary step towards equality whilst fulfilling this role, she gained the opportunity to launch the Pride@Lloyds network internally and became the first women and openly bisexual person to be named at the top of the OUTstanding & FT Leading LGBT executive power list in 2015. A proud workplace equality advocate and British businesswoman, Inga has taken the industry by storm over recent years and is currently appointed as the President of The British Swiss Chamber of Commerce. A position which allows her to share her expert knowledge with audiences globally, she is admired for devoting her career to implementing positive change throughout society. With her ability to offer in-depth discussions surrounding topics such as business politics and diversity and inclusion, Dame Inga Beal is the perfect addition to any corporate event or function.
22. Nigel Owens - 9.5/10
Nigel Owens is a renowned record-holding international referee, best known for becoming one of the first in the male-dominated sport’s history to come out as openly gay. Treasured for his ability to perform within a high-pressure situation, the lessons he learnt in his illustrious sporting career are now being used to motivate audiences at corporate events. Raising awareness of the LGBT issues that members of the sporting community face daily, Nigel was named Stonewall’s Gay Sports Personality of the Year in 2007, Gay Sports Personality of the Decade, and was later appointed an MBE in 2016 for his Services to Sport. In 2022, he became a proud Ambassador for Accelerate Sport, working alongside the organisation to educate sports clubs on the importance of equality, diversity, LGBT+ inclusion, and mental health. When looking to inspire audiences at your next event, do not hesitate to hire Nigel today.
23. Kimberle Crenshaw - 9.3/10
Kimberle Crenshaw is a treasured Professor of Law at UCLA and Columbia Law School. Specialising in civil rights, critical race theory, and feminism, she has focused her research on writing on ‘intersectionality’ explaining the oppression of Black American women to audiences globally. Utilising her remarkable industry knowledge and experience, Kimberle has become the Founder and Coordinator of the Critical Race Theory Workshop, and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the African American Policy Forum, whilst also spending her free time lecturing students on racial matters. Passionate about empowering women, she was named the No.1 Most Inspiring Feminist by Ms Magazine in 2015 and became the recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Scholar Award from Fellows of the American Bar Foundation. Now also an exceptional and captivating speaker, Kimberle was invited to speak on The Urgency of Intersectionality by TEDWOMEN and has since become one of the most sought-after diversity and inclusion speakers in the industry.
24. Sophie Williams - 9.2/10
Sophie Williams is an expert in all things diversity, equality, and inclusion. As the proud Founder of @OfficialMilenialBlack, a leading anti-racism Instagram page with over 163,000 followers, she has become an admirable figure for audiences worldwide. Highly sought-after as an Intersectional Equality Consultant, Sophie is on a mission to educate audiences of the importance of inclusivity, and the negative impacts discrimination can have throughout society. Passionate about sharing her expertise on topics such as anti-racism, inclusivity, and allyship with audiences, Sophie released her debut publication ‘Anti-Racist Ally’ in 2020, shortly followed by ‘Millennial Black’ in 2021. Alongside this, many of her written pieces have been published by the likes of The Guardian, Bustle, Glamour, and Cosmopolitan. With prior experience appearing at events such as TEDx Talks, BBC x Open University and the Primadonna Festival, Sophie is the ideal diversity and inclusion speaker to attend your next event.
25. Zaheer Ahmad - 9.4/10
Zaheer Ahmad is a greatly respected race and ethnicity specialist, best known for currently serving as the Global Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Haleon, an industry-leading health company. A driven professional, Zaheer began his career in the police force and was a member of five National Police boards, including the Equality, Diversity, and Human Rights Board. Since leaving the force, he has secured numerous high-profile roles in the field of diversity and inclusion. Alongside his work at Haleon, Zaheer is also a Leadership Fellow at the Society of Leadership Fellows, and an Independent Panel Member with the Premier League Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Standards. Recognised for his determination to implement positive change in the workplace environment, Zaheer has been the recipient of the European Diversity Hero of the Year Award, Ethnicity in the City Inspirational Leader Award, and was named on the Global Diversity Top 20 D&I Professionals list for two consecutive years. When looking to hire an experienced diversity and inclusion speaker to educate your audience at future events, Zaheer is a popular choice.
Hire a Diversity & Inclusion Speaker Today!
To hire one of the diversity and inclusion speakers featured in this post, or any other inspiring figures on our site, please contact us today by filling in our online contact form or by calling one of our dedicated booking agents on 0207 1010 553.
This verified article on the Official Top 25 Diversity & Inclusion Speakers in the World Ranked on Popularity was written by Chris Tompkins.
